Tag Archives: barca

VIDEO: PSG players filmed discussing a possible Champions League exit before defeat to Barca

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Paris Saint-Germain quartet Marco Verratti, Blaise Matuidi, Thomas Meunier and Julian Draxler feared a monumental collapse against Barcelona despite heading to the Nou Camp with a 4-0 lead.

Prior to Wednesday’s game, no Champions League team had ever overturned a first leg deficit of more than three goals. But Barcelona broke that record against the Ligue 1 champions, scoring three times in the final seven minutes to complete a sensational comeback.

PSG’s 4-0 lead should have given them confidence heading to Spain, but it has now emerged that not even that advantage was enough for them to banish their fears prior to the match.

In a video shot before the second leg, Verratti, Matuidi, Meunier and Draxler were filmed discussing their previous experiences of blowing first leg leads against big sides.

“The first 20 minutes is going to be tough,” said Matuidi. “The pitch is huge. When Neymar has the ball, you’re always one-on-one.”

Draxler interjected: “Last year with Wolfsburg, we won [against Real Madrid] 2-0 at home. After 20 minutes in the Bernabeu, it was 2-0 to Real. Then, in the 80th minute, Ronaldo scored – 3-0.”

He added: “I think the coach and the team were afraid because we didn’t attack.”

Recalling PSG’s collapse against Chelsea, Matuidi added: “It was the same with us against Chelsea. We won 3-1 at home. You think ‘it’s all good, we are qualified’. When we landed there I think we were afraid, we didn’t attack. [We lost] 2-0. Eliminated.”

In the end, Wednesday’s result eclipsed all previous European collapses, and PSG’s players were treated to a volley of abuse when they landed back in the French capital.

A statement from the club read: “On Wednesday night, upon their return from Barcelona, the Paris Saint-Germain players were confronted and threatened by several individuals at Bourget Airport, despite the club and authorities reinforcing security.

“These individuals verbally insulted the players before vandalising their cars. Several vehicles were damaged.

“In this extremely hostile and aggressive climate, all vehicles were escorted to ensure the safe passage of the players, their families and club staff members. One individual was struck by a car trying to escape the crowd that was physically threatening the players and their families.

“A police investigation is under way to establish exactly what happened.

“The club, and all those present, have informed the investigators of their readiness to help the investigation, to get to the bottom of this regrettable incident.

“The club strongly condemns the actions and behaviour of the individuals in question.”

Pedro Has Changed The Dynamics At Chelsea – Azpilicueta

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The ex-Barcelona forward is looking forward to a new test at Stamford Bridge after starring on his Blues debut, according to the Premier League champions’ first-choice left-back

New signing Pedro has “changed the dynamics” at Chelsea, says compatriot Cesar Azpilicueta, who has also called upon the Premier League champions to improve their form after a difficult start to the 2015-16 season.

The former Barcelona forward starred on his Blues debut with a goal in Sunday’s 3-2 win at West Brom to help Jose Mourinho’s side to record their first win of the campaign.

Chelsea have four points from a possible nine this term after conceding seven goals and collecting two red cards already but Azpilicueta – who also scored his first league goal in England at the Hawthorns – is confident that his side will be fighting for the title with Pedro.

“It is clear that [Pedro] personally wanted to start a new adventure, another experience,” Azpilicueta toldCadena SER. “Pedro decided to come to a team from a different country and is very happy with a move to Chelsea.

“In a team like Chelsea, [to] get a point from a possible six, no-one is happy. We wanted to change the dynamics. Against West Brom we got three very important points that will give us confidence going to face the next matches and to rectify this bad start.”

Azpilicueta – who initially joined Chelsea as a right-back – faces competition in his current left-back slot from new signing Baba Rahman but is working hard to retain his first-team role.

“From the beginning, Mourinho has shown me his trust and I tried to return it in every practice and every game,” he added. “At the end of the day, all we fight for is to win titles.”

Five Things We Learnt From Barca’s Win Over Real Madrid

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Barcelona took a huge step towards a fifth La Liga title in seven years with a 2-1 win over Real Madrid thanks to Luis Suarez‘s stunning strike on Sunday.

Here, AFP sports looks at five lessons to be learned heading into the final 10 games of the La Liga season.

1. Suarez sinks his teeth into Madrid

The Uruguayan made his Barca debut in the first game between these two sides as Madrid ran out convincing 3-1 winners back in October after completing a four-month ban for biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup.

This time it was Madrid who were wounded by the former Liverpool star as he capped his rapid rise in recent weeks with what he described as his “most important goal for Barca” and the one that could land them the title.

2. Ronaldo wins the battle, Messi the war

In the clash between the world’s two best players, Cristiano Ronaldo won 1-0 as his first-half equaliser moved him level with Real legend Raul as the third highest scorer in El Clasico history.

However, it was Lionel Messi who emerged victorious on the evening despite a subdued display until space opened up for Barca as Madrid chased the game in the final 20 minutes.

3. Pique’s turnaround at the heart of Barca revival

Barca had also scored first at the Bernabeu earlier in the campaign, but a stupid handball inside his own area from Gerard Pique handed them a route back into the game and they took full advantage.

That was just one of a series of errors from the Spanish international in the opening months of the season, but his remarkable turnaround in performance since the turn of the year has been one of the hallmarks of Barca’s run of 18 wins in 19 games.

Pique claimed he wanted to return to being the best centre-back in the world a few months ago and Barca boss Luis Enrique said he was “well on the road” to doing so after a solid display to hold the Barca defence together in the face of some incessant first-half pressure from Madrid.

4. Modric offers Madrid hope

Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti took solace from his side’s much improved display for the first hour of the match in comparison to their wretched form in recent weeks.

That upturn had much to do with the return of Luka Modric in midfield after four months out as the Croatian played a major role in the lovely move which culminated in Ronaldo’s equaliser.

It was no coincidence that Ancelotti’s men faded as the former Spurs man’s legs wilted in the second-half after such a long spell on the sidelines.

5. Bale, Neymar still have much to prove

The two blockbuster buys of the 2013 summer transfer window were seen as the heirs to Messi and Ronaldo’s thrones at the Spanish giants.

Yet, this was another showing in which neither covered themselves in glory.

Bale was unfortunate to see a goal ruled out for Ronaldo being in an offside position in the first period, but fluffed his lines when firing wide with a good chance to send Madrid in 2-1 at the break.

Neymar passed up even better chances, most notably seconds before Ronaldo’s leveller, and was also too selfish on a number of occasions after the break with teammates better positioned to add the finishing touch.

Credit: AFPsports

Barcelona To Snub Ballon d’Or Ceremony As Bartomeu Cuts Fifa Ties

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Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu has announced that he will boycott the Ballon d’Or ceremony as part of a severing of ties with Fifa.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has upheld Fifa’s decision to ban Barca from making any signings in the next two transfer windows (starting this January) for irregularities over bringing youngsters into academy, La Masia.

As a result, the Blaugrana are giving world football’s governing body the cold shoulder and Bartomeu, who remains convinced that the decision will be overturned, says that he will not attend the event in Zurich despite Lionel Messi’s nomination for the top prize.

“Fifa has not told us who made the original charge and during the period of the sanction we will not maintain any institutional relations with them,” Bartomeu said at a press conference.

“I have sent a stern letter to Sepp Blatter and I will not be attending the Fifa Ballon d’Or gala set for January 12.

“This is not the end of the matter. I foresee the Barca case becoming a watershed in the football world, just like the Bosman case. However long it lasts, we will not lose this case.”

While Messi is among the final three nominees for the 2014 Ballon d’Or, a number of Barcelona stars are candidates to be named in the Fifa FIFPro World XI for their performances in the past year.

Claudio Bravo, Jordi Alba, Dani Alves, Javier Mascherano, Gerard Pique, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Luis Suarez, Neymar and Messi are all on the final shortlist.